Hosea 11:1-4, 8-9 / Matthew 10:7-15
Human beings are social beings, and this means that in life, we enter into human relationships with one another.
But human relationships are quite complex as it involves emotions as well as expectations.
In a parent-child relationship, parents are expected to care and provide for their children, and children are expected to obey and respect their parents.
In the other interpersonal relationships, there are also expectations that can be spelt out and understood by all parties.
But relationships are not lived out based on logical and rational principles.
Because in relationships there are also emotions, and when expectations in a relationship are not met, then there can be anger, frustration and resentment.
So as much as relationships can be built with love and understanding, relationships can also break down with misunderstanding and even with betrayal.
In the first reading, the Lord God recalls how He loved His people and brought them out of slavery.
But it seems that the more He loved them, the more they turned away from Him.
That is beyond all human understanding, and with the breakdown of the relationship, God can easily punish His people and reject and discard them away.
And here comes something that is beyond our human understanding and expectation when God said this:
“I will not give reign to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God not man. I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.”
So, God’s ways are not man’s ways, and God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts.
When we remember this, and act in the ways of God and think of His love and mercy, then we will build loving relationships with God and with others.